Middlesbrough’s climb up the English Football League Championship table continued on Boxing Day with Zack Steffen playing his part in the club’s latest victory under new manager Michael Carrick.
Steffen made three saves on Monday in Middlesbrough’s 4-1 home victory over Wigan Athletic, moving them up to 12th in the league table. The U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper has helped Middlesbrough go 5-1-1 over its last seven league matches, escaping the relegation zone over the last few weeks and move closer to the top ten. Chuba Akpom’s hat trick helped Middlesbrough give its home fans plenty to cheer about at the Riverside Stadium, while Steffen continued to make key saves when needed.
The 27-year-old has made 20 appearances for Middlesbrough while on loan from Manchester City, and after overcoming some early struggles at the club, Steffen has rebounded nicely to help guide Boro up the table. Four of Middlesbrough’s next five league matches will be against clubs ahead of them in the table, starting with Thursday’s trip to Blackburn Rovers.
Elsewhere in England, Tim Ream scored his first Premier League goal in Fulham’s shutout victory over Crystal Palace. Antonee Robinson returned to action as well for Fulham. Ethan Horvath made three saves to help Luton Town defeat Norwich City.
In France, Erik Palmer-Brown and Tim Weah returned to action in Ligue 1 action.
In Italy, Tanner Tessmann continued to start for Serie B side Venezia.
In Belgium, Bryan Reynolds logged 90 minutes in Westerlo’s 3-3 draw with Royal Antwerp. Mark McKenzie remained a consistent starter for league-leaders Genk, but couldn’t help his side avoid a shock loss to Kortrijk.
Here is a closer look at this week’s Americans Abroad:
England
Premier League
Tim Ream started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in Fulham’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Monday.
Antonee Robinson started and played 90 minutes for Fulham.
Chris Richards started and played 90 minutes for Crystal Palace.
Brenden Aaronson started and played 82 minutes in Leeds United’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City on Wednesday.
Tyler Adams is OUT (Suspension) for Leeds.
Christian Pulisic started and played 82 minutes in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Matt Turner dressed but did not play in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over West Ham United on Monday.
Championship
Ethan Horvath started, made THREE SAVES, and played 90 minutes in Luton Town’s 2-1 win over Norwich City on Monday. Horvath also started, made TWO SAVES, and played 90 minutes in Luton’s 3-0 win over QPR on Thursday.
Josh Sargent started and played 90 minutes for Norwich City.
Zack Steffen started, made TWO SAVES, and played 90 minutes in Middlesbrough’s 4-1 win over Wigan Athletic on Monday. Steffen started, made FOUR SAVES, and played 90 minutes in Middlesbrough’s 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Thursday.
Duane Holmes started and played 90 minutes in Huddersfield’s 2-1 win over Preston North End on Monday. Holmes started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 84 minutes in Huddersfield’s 2-0 win over Rotherham United on Thursday.
Auston Trusty started and played 90 minutes in Birmingham City’s 3-0 loss to Burnley on Tuesday.
Lynden Gooch started and played 79 minutes in Sunderland’s 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers on Monday. Gooch missed Sunderland’s 4-1 win over Wigan Athletic on Thursday due to injury.
Daryl Dike started and played 64 minutes in West Bromwich Albion’s 2-0 win over Bristol City on Monday. Dike came off the bench and played 27 minutes in West Brom’s 2-0 win over Preston North End on Thursday.
France
Ligue 1
Erik Palmer-Brown started and played 90 minutes in Troyes 0-0 draw with Nantes on Wednesday.
Folarin Balogun started, scored TWO GOALS, and played 86 minutes in Stade Reims 3-1 win over Rennes on Thursday.
Tim Weah came off the bench and played 12 minutes in Lille’s 2-0 win over Clermont Foot on Wednesday.
Italy
Serie B
Tanner Tessmann started and played 90 minutes in Venezia’s 2-2 draw with Parma on Monday.
Gianluca Busio came off the bench and played 45 minutes for Venezia.
Andrija Novakovich came off the bench and played 27 minutes for Venezia.
Anthony Fontana did not dress in Ascoli’s 1-0 loss to Reggina on Monday.
Portugal
Liga Portugal
Reggie Cannon and Boavista’s scheduled match with Estoril was postponed on Thursday.
Scotland
Premiership
Malik Tillman started, scored ONE GOAL, and played 90 minutes in Rangers 3-0 win over Motherwell on Wednesday.
James Sands came off the bench and played 24 minutes for Rangers.
Cameron Carter-Vickers started and played 90 minutes in Celtic’s 4-0 win over Hibernian on Wednesday.
Ian Harkes started and played 90 minutes in Dundee United’s 3-0 win over Ross County on Wednesday.
Christian Ramirez came off the bench and played 34 minutes in Aberdeen’s 2-1 loss to Kilmarnock on Wednesday.
Dante Polvara dressed but did not play for Aberdeen.
Joe Efford is OUT (Injury) for Motherwell.
Belgium
First Division A
Mark McKenzie started and played 90 minutes in Genk’s 1-0 loss to Kortrijk on Monday.
Bryan Reynolds started and played 90 minutes in Westerlo’s 3-3 draw with Royal Antwerp on Tuesday.
Sam Vines is OUT (Injury) for Royal Antwerp.
Turkey
Super Lig
Haji Wright started and played 90 minutes in Antalyaspor’s 2-0 loss to Istanbul Basaksehir on Tuesday.
here were Gio’s minutes since he returned from injury in October for Dortmund before the World Cup.
10/11–19′
10/16–8′
10/19–22′
10/22–66′
10/29–29′
11/2–63′
11/5–67′
11/8–29′
11/11–45′
in this time, he scored 2 goals (one a PK I believe) and 0 assists
he missed a lot of the USMNT qualifying too from his hamstring, right? missed the Nations League this summer with another muscle thing, right? if he can come to terms with the fact that his place is not guaranteed, he’ll do himself a great service imo, same with the fandom if they can get there
we’re all aware of his talent, but he’s still growing in other areas apparently…imagine that, a 20 year old still maturing. At 20, who among us was so matrue and developed? it’s a process, and he’s in the middle of it.
I bet he becomes a heck of a human and player, and all of this can either help him get there or slow him down. His choice, not GB’s. You think GB would not play someone who would help him with his job? Only JK had the keys to the car to pull off that BS
edit: one game 10/25–87′
Folarin Balogun needs to stop playing around and solidify his place with the USMNT. Wow….wow….wow this kid is dynamic. CURRENTLY Folarin Balogun has scored three more goals than Lionel Messi this season and only Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have netted more. WHAT???!!!!! He has all the attributes that would elevate the level of the USMNT: Speed, skill, excellent first touch…..I mean he is just amazing right now. Double digit goal tally and counting WITH OVER 22 GAMES TO GO!!!!! Wow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOOnPe7XK_U
“Chris Richards started and played 90 minutes for Crystal Palace.”
Richards subbed on at ~60′. Great that he’s getting some time. Maybe more than they planned due to the red cards. Not a full 90′ yet.
Guehi (their regular starter) was on a red card suspension for last game so he’ll likely slot back in. Richards could start at LB for Mitchell.
Balogun with a sensational volley for Reims right now. US soccer needs to pull out all the stops to get him into the USMNT. His opportunity to be the guy for the USMNT is a higher percentage than it is with England.
+1
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!
Excited by Tessman continued development and game time for Venezia. I think he will be playing for a Serie A team in the next couple years. USMNT also needs more depth at the 6 and 8 positions
Also looks like Steffen is rounding back into top form. Should have never went to Man City. I won’t be surprised if Turners form as a back up at Arsenal drops just like Steffens did. Could definitely see Steffen as the #1 for the USMNT again this up coming summer Nations League.
That depends on who the manager is.
“I won’t be surprised if Turners form as a back up at Arsenal drops just like Steffens did.”
I expect Matt to be far more competitive with Ramsdale than Zack ever was with Ederson. And if that doesn’t work out I expect Turner will figure out something.
Matt seems to be someone who makes the most of his time .
He’s the best USMNT keeper right now mostly he believes in himself more than the others seem to .
Weah seeing more time again at RWB today. Will be interesting to see if Weah gets turned into a RWB/RB at Lille, and excels. Dest, Weah, and Scally competing for RWB/RB in the 2026 cycle.
Sarcasm alert – utilizing all of the punditry here on SBI
We should not care about Weah’s performance. He only scored one goal in the World Cup and hence was basically ineffective the entire tournament. I am sure his failure to track back created problems for our defense all tournament leading to the penalty by Zimmerman against Wales and at least two of the goals by the Netherlands.
And we all know the French Lique 1 is a much lower league than the EPL or Bundesliga. If he really cared about improving, he would go to a better league.
Of course, his solitary goal could be simply related to the formations used by the Berhalter, who is clearly the worst coach of all time; maybe just a bit better than Sarachan, who was the longest interim coach in the history of the world.
Last, Weah shouldn’t have been on the field in the WC anyway as Gio should have been the starter, and Aaronson a preferred player having played in the EPL.
Finally! Somebody is talking sense 🙂
You forgot to mention Weah should play on the left where he had far more success than Pulisic did with our U20s. 😉
“Berhalter, who is clearly the worst coach of all time.”
+1
That’s about right but you should have mentioned:
Weah is the best #9 and should have been put there.
“Sarachan, who was the longest interim coach in the history of the world.”
Depends on how you look at it. Dave is 5’5″, definitely the shortest.
“at least two of the goals by the Netherlands.”
One was on Dest, another was a mixup between Jedi and Ream . That leaves Timo at fault for at most , only one goal.
You’re right we shouldn’t care about Timo’s performance. It’s way too early for 2026 or even 2024 if they do Copa America. And all of them have the World Cup hangover excuse if they want it.
Who said I was talking about his height Vacqui?
Vacqui: did you miss the first line of Midwest Refs original comment?
“Who said I was talking about his height Vacqui?”
Not me . You wrote.
“Sarachan, who was the longest interim coach in the history of the world.”
I’m just proposing you lay them out lengthwise:
“Depends on how you look at it. Dave is 5’5″, definitely the shortest.”
Also the one thing I did not do was research the actual “interim” coaches. There have been several I’m pretty sure.
“Vacqui: did you miss the first line of Midwest Refs original comment?”
Hardly.
Sarcasm doesn’t work on the internet with people who you don’t know and can’t see to gauge their reactions to what you’re actually saying.
So I just take Mr. Ref’s comments, which he did a nice job on, at face value.